Sunita Williams and colleague astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore are still stranded in orbit almost eight months beyond their eight-day allotted time in space.
On June 5, 2024, the two NASA astronauts left for the International Space Station. However, the two were unable to return to Earth because of helium leaks and other issues with the Boeing Starliner capsule.
NASA was left scrambling to figure out how to get Williams and Wilmore back, even though the spacecraft came home empty.
The date of their potential return trip has been extended multiple times in recent months, and the ISS says it is not anticipated to happen until late March.
President Donald Trump urged Elon Musk and SpaceX to “go get them” after accusing Biden’s administration of deserting the two astronauts.
“Elon will arrive shortly. “Hopefully everything will be safe,” Trump remarked. “Elon, good luck!”
Musk responded on X by saying he would.
NASA assigned SpaceX to send Williams and Wilmore home after determining that Starliner was not suitable for the assignment. The Crew-9 capsule from SpaceX is actually docked on the ISS. Before Crew-9 may depart the ISS, the Crew-10 capsule is anticipated to be launched in late March.
Students from Needham High School, from which astronaut Williams graduated in 1983, recently conducted an interview with her.
In response to an inquiry from the International Space Station, she described how microgravity made her feel as though she was flying or swimming.
I’ve been trying to recall what it feels like to walk because I’ve been up here long enough. I haven’t gone for a walk. I haven’t taken a seat. “I have not laid down,” Williams continued. You are not required to. You can simply close your eyes and float in this same spot.
She went on to say that although she and fellow astronaut Wilmore had anticipated their space voyage to be longer than the allotted eight days, they had not anticipated it taking this long.
She told the students, “It was a bit of a shock, actually.” To be honest, we anticipated that it would take around a month. However, the prolonged stay was slightly different.
Although Williams is happy to be able to tell everyone about her trip, she is obviously excited to be home.
She stated, “I just try to stay in touch with them and those guys as much as possible because my mother is getting a little older.” I believe I speak with my mother almost daily. Simply give her a call to see how she’s doing and check in with her. As a result, our relationship is slightly different from what we may have anticipated during the past few months. However, we’re getting by.
Williams addressed the allegations that she had shed a substantial amount of weight back in November. She told New England Sports Network Clubhouse that she uses weightlifting equipment and a treadmill, just like she did before going on the space voyage.
